Some football players consider concussions to be part of the game, much like sprains, strains, and other common football injuries. When the San Francisco 49ers benefitted from a collision that sent New Orleans Saints running back Pierre Thomas out with a concussion, its players characterized the hit as an effective way to send a message. However, when an opposing team reportedly targeted a 49er wide receiver with a history of concussions, the perspective of the local media changed.

While some players are willing to hide their concussions, such decisions bear long-term consequences, as seen in the numerous complaints recently filed by retired NFL players.

In the complaints, the players alleged that the NFL was aware of “the risks of permanent brain damage from repetitive concussions,” but chose to ignore and conceal them from the players. Such traumatic brain injuries can cause “severe cognitive problems such as depression and early-onset dementia” as well as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), which is associated with “memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, paranoia, impulse-control problems, aggression, depression, and eventually progressive dementia.”

Repeated concussion can not only shorten player careers, but also lives. We should keep this in mind when we are watching the Super Bowl next week and cheering after a big defensive hit.

The NFL has been battling the issues of retired players suffering from their injuries well after their playing career for decades now. Many of those same players are coming out and suing the league for not helping them since they have left. It is a delicate matter because of the time period back then there wasn’t enough technology and data to really understand the effects of playing. Now that there is and the evidence is right in front of people’s faces, many feel it is the league’s duty to help. While the other side of that argument is the players took their life and career in their own hands and should be held accountable to their own actions.

Cornell University law professor Sherry Colb discusses the observed phenomenon of mental health clinicians’ empathy varying with the cause of the patient’s disorder, and compares this occurrence with juror empathy.